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Towards development of penside diagnostic assays for Napier grass stunt disease to enhance livestock fodder supply and pest control in East Africa
Project
Project code: JKI-OW-08-1193
Contract period: 01.10.2013
- 31.12.2015
Purpose of research: Applied research
Candidatus Phytoplasma spp. (or only Phytoplasmas) are wall-less bacteria transmitted by insect vectors and infecting a wide variety of plants around the world. Infection with phytoplasmas changes the normal growth patterns and can cause among others, yellowing of the leaves, phyllody (the production of leaf-like structures in place of flowers) and virescence. Napier grass Stunt Disease (NSD) is a recently discovered disease that severely stunts the growth of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum), the major fodder grass for the dairy industry in eastern Africa. It is estimated that NSD is associated with biomass losses of about 70%. In Kenya and Uganda, NSD is caused by a phytoplasma belonging to the 16SrXI or rice yellow dwarf group. The major vector of NSD is the leafhopper Maiestas (=Recilia) banda. Napier grass is also widely used by small-holder maize farmers in the Lake Victoria region as part of icipe’s push-pull program, the Centre’s landmark habitat management strategy to improve soil fertility, reduce the impact of cereal stemborers, the most important field pests of cereals in Africa, and the parasitic striga weed (www.push-pull.net). A fast diagnostic test will be developed enabeling point of care diagnosis to identify infected plants and reduce spread of disease.
Section overview
Subjects
- Crop Protection
- Grassland
- Animal nutrition
Framework programme
Funding programme
Excutive institution
Institute for Plant Protection in Fruit Crops and Viticulture - Fruit Cops (JKI-OW)
